Greek -American economic relations and investment opportunities were discussed in panels that took place as part of 10th Delphi Economic Forum performed in Delphi 9-12 April.

“Greece can get the gazprom loop out of Europe’s” throat “. It can offer an alternative to Europe with American LNG passing through Revithousa or Alexandroupolis. No industries in a country with such high electricity prices’said the George Tsounis, US Ambassador to Greece, Referring to the prospects of Greek -American relations.

Answering a question for What has surprised him in the last decade in the countrynoted that: “When markets believe that Greece’s debt is better than the US, it is shock. When they are better evaluated by Spanish, French, Italian is a surprise. Greece has gone from a place where you could not find a job, having reached 28% unemployment, is at 8.6% with a declining trend. “

Asked What would change in the country And after noting that his diplomatic days are over, he replied: “The judicial system is funny. I will be critical not for the government, I have met with the Minister of Justice. It makes all the right moves. We must have prosecutors and judges who realize that delayed justice is a denial of justice and we should be a little more victimistic. “

George Chatzinikolaou, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Piraeus Banknoted that “The crisis that the Greek banking system went through is an example of the importance of political and economic stability. Unlike the US and other Western countries, the crisis started in the banking sector and “contaminated” other areas.

Political stability has allowed the banking sector to be linked. The other lesson is determination. The Greek banking system, with the help of the state, faced the most serious problem in the banking sector, the non -performing loans, which were “cut”. “

Asked about the capabilities of the banking systemhe replied: “The Greek banking system has liquidity, it is ready and with a willingness to lend. But it takes two to dance tango. To lend money, one needs to come to ask for it. There is no question of the system’s capabilities to provide liquidity, but to find investment. “

In non -performing loans he was reported in turn and the Dean Dakolias, Co-Chairman & Managing Partner, Fortress Investment Group. “Non -performing loans have left the Greek banking system but continue to exist. They have diminished, but there is a large part of the economy that does not have access to capital. “

Asked about opportunities in Greece, he stressed how “The real opportunity for Greece is to create an ecosystem around entrepreneurship because the talent in the country as well as the dispersion it wants to return is important.”

To project Success Stories, as that of the film industry called the country Alex Pissios, Founder, Cinespace Studios, President, Aleco Capital. He stressed that more films are filmed in Greece than anywhere else in Europe.

“In the US when they hear about Greece they think of tourism. But the film industry has done a great job here. I am in touch with them and are very pleased with services, taxation, labor force ». As for what would he ask to change in the country? ‘The predictability’noted and continued: “Greece still has issues with its reputation that are considered obstacles. Changes in the legal framework, political stability. Converting them into question marks is very important and make the difference. They motivate investors. “

Finally, the Giannis Sarakakis, President of the Sarakakis Group of Companies, Vice President, Hellenic American Chamber of Commercenoted: “Innovation should be of interest to us and sustainability, not only environmental but also economic. We need to have one eye in extroversion to attract foreign investment. We have to be durable but also flexible because the change comes quickly and not forget social cohesion. Greece is traditionally an economy of services. We will need to increase the industry in which we are low. We have to add value to what we produce. An obvious step towards this is the new technological revolution and the businesses in this area. We have people with skills. I want to see this economy come in from a state of recovery in growth. “